I recieved an email from Bob Pacific, the head ranger for the Evans Creek area informing me that if the pending government shutdown happens it will likely result in the closure of federal recreational lands. This means that Evans Creek, and other national parks and recreation areas will be closed. Below is a copy of the email I recieved.

"Midnight Friday is the deadline for passing a federal budget and it is not looking good at this point. If the goverment shutdown goes into effect, we will likely be directed not to work or volunteer. Some essential services ie) law enforcement will continue but keeping recreation sites open is not one of them. If this is the case, we will likely be locking toilet facilities, closing gates that access federal land whether National Park Service Lands, National Forest Lands etc. This would include Evans Creek and other roads that currently have gates. Some of the public think a goverment shutdown is a good thing and would not effect them personally. Closing access to their favorite recreation site or area is a good example of one thing that would effect them directly. Please pass on to other club members and friends and also to those that need to be reminded that law enforecement will be still be working. Hopefully the shutdown wont happen and I will see you next Tuesday night. "

As far as NF ground, since that is PUBLIC LAND, I don't believe they can legally close off access to it. If you got a ticket and went to court I believe you would prevail. As far as fee sites they may be able to close those, but as far as regular USFS and BLM controlled ground I think a big NO is in order.

Evans creek is open. I believe they simply forgot to close it when they left.

Art, The wife and I were escorted from Ruby beach this weekend (Olympic natl, park) by a park LEO. We had parked on the highway along with about half a dozen others and walked in. No tickets issued but he was "upset" since we should have known why all of the parking lots were barricaded.

National Parks may be in a different catagory since entrance fees are required. I was referring to normal, regular USFS and BLM controlled ground. USFS and BLM run fee campgrounds, etc are closed, and most are done for the season anyway, but I don't see where they can keep the public from running the roads and trails on the forests and other USFS and BLM controlled public land.

Was an news blurb that they were running off people that were looking at Mt. Rushmore from a pull-out on a highway outside the park boundaries. No idea if true or not. What closures have been decide on wee done to aggrivate the maximum number of the public while keeping pet systems up and running.

Well there you go. The N.P. has jurisdiction on roads thru its parks and with the Park closed stopping and parking gave them reason to approach you. No matter how idiotic you view it, the public is supposed to "Know Before You Go". Signs only have to be posted minimally. Usually near Park entrances.

Well there you go. The N.P. has jurisdiction on roads thru its parks and with the Park closed stopping and parking gave them reason to approach you. No matter how idiotic you view it, the public is supposed to "Know Before You Go". Signs only have to be posted minimally. Usually near Park entrances.

Just who's land is it anyway ? We as citizens hire the park people and the forest service people to manage it FOR us not to keep us from using it. Its times like these that make people realize that they need to stand up and fight back.

Just who's land is it anyway ? We as citizens hire the park people and the forest service people to manage it FOR us not to keep us from using it. Its times like these that make people realize that they need to stand up and fight back.

Land belongs to all of us, however the management of that land thru an act of Congress was given to BLM for the Park Service or the USDA for the Forest Service.

The "system" itself describes how to change it, should you care enough to effect change.

Well, since the feds have authority over roads through parks and such, the states can save a boatload of money by letting them do the maint. on them, including culvert cleaning, bridge repairs, paving, plowing, etc. I'm sure that 101 has an existing RS2477 ROW. If things went to court, I don't know how it would shake out if pushed hard.